Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion Update

**WinstonP** · 17th March 2007, 01:57 PM

It has been about two months since this project was announced, and I wanted to post a few general comments about the progress made so far.

First off, I want to thank the numerous members of the forums who've contacted me or posted to the forums with ideas for the project, offers of help, and submissions. I think we've got a great monograph in the works.

This isn't to say that we don't have room for more. If you have an idea that you think should be part of the book, post it to the ideas thread. If you've got something you've written or would be willing to write, drop me a line (either pm or email). If you're willing to write, but need a little inspiration, ditto. Finally, if you've made a suggestion or contacted me about something for the book and I didn't reply, that wasn't disinterest, that was me being sloppy- while at this point I think I've emailed or pmed all interested parties, I could be wrong. Drop me a line and let me know.

There are a few things at this point I think we're still in need of. The first is an article of keeper advice for running Masks. There are so many discussions about running the campaign that most of the work is already done, someone just needs to pull the ideas together and write it down.

Secondly, another "all the pieces are there" project would be a timeline of events from the start of events to the conclusion. If you can use a microfilm reader and have some interest at spending a few hours in the library, this very helpful article would be a snap. Or a click of keys. You get the idea. Entries wouldn't need be more than a sentence ("11 die in ferry accident off Sardinia.") and would be of great interest to many readers.

Additionally there has been some interest in adapting Masks to other eras. I know that a Masks/Delta Green game has been outlined, as has (I think) a gaslight game, but what of other settings?

Finally, there is the question of art. Art would be great. I have a few leads here, but I want to make a general request to the artistically minded- if you'd be willing to drawn, paint, pixelate, or otherwise use your muse, let me know. Also, I've been told that a nice image of the Dark Mistress in Shanghai harbor was posted to rpg.net some time back. My searches have all come up empty. Can any point me in its direction?

Thanks to everyone involved. I'll be in touch.

**WinstonP** · 17th April 2007, 04:20 PM

I wanted to post another update of the goings-on of the Yog-Sothoth.com benefit monograph (The Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion) for the benefit of the YSDC community.

Things progress well, with well over 15,000 words of already submitted materials with more arriving all the time. I want to reiterate my thanks to all the contributors and others who’ve offered help. YSDC really is a great community for Call of Cthulhu gamers! We’ve got about six weeks until I’d like to have everything in.

Of course, there is always room for other contributions- I’m still looking for that picture of the Dark Mistress for example.

There are plenty of items (ranging from a few hundred words to several thousand) that have been suggested by other YSDC members and that would be welcome additions. Please email me (winstonp at gmail dot com) or pm me for ideas; the suggestions in my last post are a good starting point as well.

I’ll be in touch with the various contributors (and people who’ve offered contributions) very soon. If you’re still waiting to hear back from me about something, drop me a note to remind me.

There will another update in a month.

**WinstonP** · 16th May 2007, 08:53 PM

With two weeks to go before out submission target date of June 1st, I wanted to post one final update for the YSDC community.

First, as always, thanks to the folks who've already made a submission or have offered their help.

Secondly, if you're interested in making a submission, drop me a line and let me know. Alternately, if you'd like to contribute but aren't sure what write, I'd be happy to make suggestions.

If you're already working on a contribution and have not yet submitted it, please drop me a line before June 1st to give me an update of your status. Obviously I'd like to have all of the submissions in by that date, but I'd rather get something a little late than not get it at all. I'll try to be in touch with all the contributors before then but you don't have to wait for my email to update me. Submissions made, without prior approval, after June 1 might not be included in the finished project, so even if it is just an idea at this point, drop me a line and we can discuss any possible contribution.

I'll post a tentative content list on or around June 1st; it looks like it is going to be great.

(as always, I can be reach via PM on the site or at winstonp@gmail.com)

**WinstonP** · 2nd October 2007, 04:20 PM

As the leaves turn, work still progresses on the Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion...

We remain in the editing (and in some cases writing) phase of things. I was hoping to be further along but free time has been at a premium for a while now, slowing progress. (The yard, for example, mocks me daily by filling up with the aforementioned leaves.) The other delay is simply a factor of how much material has been contributed- about 60,000 words at last count (not including the dozen+ pre-generated characters).

While I don't want to promise the contents before we reach a final draft, I can't help but offer a teaser-

Two long scenario and three shorter (perhaps more) "encounters"
Write-ups for every Mythos tome encountered
Expanded and improved handouts
Advice for the Keeper
and all with illustrations and maps

It will be a very nice book when we're done. Thanks for bearing with me so far.

As usual, I'm still open to offers of help. I think we have enough help with editing and proof-reading (at least to handle the drips and drabs I finish) but there are a few items I'd love to pass off to some other writer, so I can focus on finishing the editing portion of the work. Some of the things I'd love to share the work on:
A definitive word about travel times (and costs) between the campaign's locales
A better description of the Ivory Wind- I have notes I'd be willing to share
Keeper's advice about the logistics or running a campaign like this, with specific advice on MoN- including the mechanical stuff ("Keep a journal") and the meta planning ("Make sure the investigators have someone who can speak Hindi....")

Anyone interested in the above (or something else entirely), email me or PM me here. This will be the last call for help or additions on these items- if they're not written, the won't be included.

Speaking of that, I'll be dropping all the contributors or potential contributors a line to either update you on your items or check in to see what the status of your items is. They will just be a friendly hello, I promise.

Updates will be posted as events warrant, but expect something in a month or so.

**GreveMagnus** · 2nd October 2007, 08:57 PM

Did you ever find that Dark Mistress image?

Because there's a fine one over at Pegasus' website.

**Dr_Zarnak** · 4th December 2007, 07:15 AM

Any updates on the status of this project? I'm planning to run Masks next summer, and am hoping this will be out by then.

**WinstonP** · 4th December 2007, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dr_Zarnak

Any updates on the status of this project? I'm planning to run Masks next summer, and am hoping this will be out by then.

I'm hoping it will be out by then as well

In all seriousness, the book is still moving forward, if at a sometimes glacial pace, perhaps in part because it seems glacier sized. Real world issues and needs generally trump the monograph, even though it is both fun to work on and has been a way to meeting many of YSDC's many wonderful members.

At this point I'm hoping to have layout start in January, which will mark the one-year mark for the book. I'd have liked it finished sooner, of course, but I think the quality of the project is worth the added time. Hopefully the book will be impressive enough that Chaosium wants to print it up right away.

The best way to speed things up is to drop me a line as I've got a number of items I'd like to see included that I'd love to farm out to another author.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far,
WinstonP

**WinstonP** · 20th January 2008, 02:19 PM

Now that we've just passed the year mark, I wanted to post another update about the status of the project.

Currently we're in the editing/proof-reading stage, moving into the layout stage. Much of the slow pace is due to my, well, slowness. Sorry for the delay. The word count is currently over 100,000 (hopefully just under Chaosium's size limit!) and is still growing... hopefully it will stop soon.

With the contributions of over 20 writers (not to mention proof-readers, cartographers, and artists), this project is a real tribute to the site and the campaign itself. Once I've got a few more things squared away I'll post a preview or two.

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of the project. You make an old yoggie proud.

**WinstonP** · 20th January 2008, 02:28 PM

Oh- I forgot to add:
Anyone willing to check a few terms in German, French, Chinese, and maybe Latin, drop me a line. You don't have to know all four!

**vogless** · 20th January 2008, 02:31 PM

This is the first I've heard of this book. Slick idea!

Is this going to be a Chaosium mono? Also, could someone post a link to the original announcement thread?

**WinstonP** · 20th January 2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by vogless

This is the first I've heard of this book. Slick idea!

Is this going to be a Chaosium mono? Also, could someone post a link to the original announcement thread?

Behold!

**vogless** · 20th January 2008, 04:23 PM

Sweet. Count me in for one. I've always wanted to give that campaign a go.

**Nebulous** · 20th January 2008, 04:33 PM

Well, i'm nearly done running Masks for the first time (in d20) and i'm posting the sessions here and enworld. I'm sorry i didn't hear about this project sooner, i could have offered some writing help. I look forward to the finished product though and i'll definitely pick it up...and i can't wait to run Masks again! The hard part is finding a group...

**Isas** · 20th January 2008, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by WinstonP

Oh- I forgot to add:
Anyone willing to check a few terms in German, French, Chinese, and maybe Latin, drop me a line. You don't have to know all four!

I could probably help out with checking French terms. French isn't my first language, but I have been learning French since I was a child and am able to speak and write French fluently. I think I should be able to handle whatever you throw at me, so long as the terms aren't too obscure and even then I should do fine.

I'll send you a PM with my information and if you still need somebody to look over the terms I'll try help out.